Now Playing in Japan

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The latest releases from overseas.

By IGN Staff

Are you a big import gamer? Did you pick up a copy of Dokapon DX even though you weren't quite sure what the "DX" was all about? Were you aware that this is the only week in the history of the world that the PS2 hasn't seen more releases than the GameCube? Then you've followed the right link!

This weekly section on IGN will keep you up to date on what games were released over the previous week in Japan. If you want to keep up to date on the import scene, be sure and check back every week.

The following games were released between 07.05.04 and 07.11.04. Click on the name to see all of IGN's current coverage on the title.

Crash Bandicoot Bakusou Nitro Cart Publisher: Konami Genre: Racing, Action, Release: 07.05.04 Price: 6090 yen, Memory: 160K Crash is still a well-known character over in Japan, so it makes sense that Konami is pushing the bandicoot's latest. Of course, this game is already out in America under the name Crash Nitro Kart, so get that unless you want the Japanese packaging.

GAMECUBE

Crash Bandicoot Bakusou! Nitro Cart Publisher: Konami Genre: Racing, Action, Release: 07.08.04 Price: 6090 yen, Memory: 3 Blocks Peripherals: Compatible with GBA Cable Nintendo fans in Japan may get confused seeing a Crash Bandicoot game on their system. This game is, just like the PS2 version, already available in America.

Bokujou Monogatari Wonderful Life for Girl Publisher: Marvelous Interactive Genre: Life, Raising, Simulation, Release: 07.08.04 Price: 7140 yen, Memory: 8 Blocks Peripherals: Compatible with GBA Cable This game is just like Harvest Moon: Wonderful Life except with a female main character instead of a male main character. If you pick this up having purchased the original, you're probably a confused girls.

XBOX

Tom Clancy Series: Rainbow Six 3 Publisher: UBI Soft Genre: War, Action, Shooting, Release: 07.08.04 Price: 7140 yen, Xbox Live compatible Japan gets the Xbox version of Rainbow Six 3 a few months following American release. See IGNXbox's coverage of the American version for more details.

That does it for this week's software list. Remember, if you want to keep ahead of the Japanese game scene, be sure and check out our weekly Gaming Life in Japan article. In addition to the week in review, a look at the latest Japanese magazines, the latest sales charts and release dates, the latest issue features television commercials for Sonic, Megaman, Power Pro Ken and Saru Battle along with scans of the July Sega Press. Check out the latest issue by browsing here.